How does DR SS Low Riders compare to Addario Pro Steels ?

[Dincrest]

DR steel Lo-Riders are great because they last a long time. Even a year later they still sound good.

However, one of the basses I procured had a beyond dead set of Pro Steels on it and sounded better than I expected.

I prefer the Pro Steels because they're more flexible feeling under my fingers than Lo-Riders, which are noticeably stiffer.

 

[Ggaa]

I wouldn't say I prefer it brighter.
I started favoring flat tones (early Zep, Queen) to realize roundwounds were much more versatile.
Tried then TI rounds which I found wimpy and weak on low end, besides too flexible.
Enjoyed the rock tones from Roto Swing Bass, not much the coarse feel.
Found D'A XLs even worse on that matter.

Always had some prejudice against GHS Boomers, cause that's all we use to have here in Brazil (along with XLs); in my mind they are the vanilla string, besides the bad rap about going dead too fast.
When I bought my Ibby Ric I saw how I was wrong, absolutely great strings.

I was curious about DR strings, so I gave them a shot. Definitely not my alley.

Which TI rounds were you using, Jazz, Super Alloy or Powerbass?

 

[Bobbadfinger]

I’ll take the two Lo Rider sets you haven’t used. Shoot me a PM.

Let me add that grippyness goes away after about 40 minutes of play. I can help you with your tone as well, try a different EQ setting. For me the best results on my PB is a flat EQ with a slight boost a 165 hz the will get rid of that mid scoop. While they are new, you may want to pull back a little treble on the bass and add a littl bass on the amp.

I appreciate the offer, but now they are in Brazil...
Right now I'm using an Orange Terror Bass, which eq is pretty limited, being a fender tone stack...mid cranked is "flat", so no boost available. And I'm not even sure what would be the center frequency of midrange.
But I have a Trace Elliot GP7M that has a graphic eq (although not that particular frequency, but 100Hz and next is 250Hz); I'll further investigate tomorrow.

Which TI rounds were you using, Jazz, Super Alloy or Powerbass?

TI Jazz Rounds, which, at the time, was a blessing, since I just started to play bass (I'm a guitar player) and that P came with Chromes, which I dislike both tonewise and stiffness.
But then I started to experiment with strings and gear in general, and my taste evolved from this.

 

[GTHintz]

After giving up trying to find the "perfect" flatwound for my Matt Freeman Precision, I realized this particular bass sounds MUCH better with roundwounds (tried Pressurewounds in the past also, but it wasn't the tone I was looking for this P either).

I was using a mixed set from some spare strings my brother gave me; I don't even know what they are: all gold ball ends, red (darker than Boomers) silk on both sides on the A and D strings, E ang G are not tappered and no silks.
Great feel, right tension and authoritative rock tones, but I ended transfering those strings to another bass.

Always heard great things about DR Low Riders in a P, so I bought a three pack (yeah, risky, but one was free).
Installed them yesterday, absolutely hated it. I know strings are not to be judged brand new - although the strings I tried so far that I liked, namely: GHS Pressurewound, Boomers and Precision Flats, Rotosound Flats all sounded perfectly good right from the packet.

SS Low Riders are coarse to the touch (like I remember Addario XL or Roto Swing Bass been) and sticky (cleaned them first with isopropyl alcohol); mid scooped and super bright (probably only feature that would tame with time).
Anyway, I'm not planning to wait, mostly due to feel/mid scoop.

I was given a set of Addario Pro Steels. I'm aware they are bright strings, but what about mid content and smoothness to the touch ?
I'll be wasting another set ? Better stick with a set of roundwounds I already know I like (Boomers for instance) or trying to discover what strings were that mixed set ?

Ok if you feel like you need mids and smoother then pro steels are a huge waste of time. They are coarse grabby and scooped. You'll want either DR Fat beams, Labella rx stainless, Sadowsky blue label stainless or try boomers again. If you want a nickel string Ken Smith Burners or Dean Markley signature series are good options. Also SIT powerwound would work. You being in Brasil I'd see how available Magma Strings are. They are from Argentina. The stainless sounded very even frequency and i heard some good mids in my tone while i used them. Very similar to the labella rx but felt stiffer to me.

 

[buldog5151bass]

If you are coming from flats, consider the nickel Lo Riders.

 

[Bobbadfinger]

Started with a short scale with flats, but thanks to Talkbass, after three years added four full scale, being one fretless...all roundwound (waiting for Ernie Ball to release a short scale Group IV for my Longhorn).
Except for Roto Swing Bass, that really has something special going on, I guess nickel would be more my cup of tea indeed.

There's Magma strings here, but same price of GHS or Addario nickel plated ones (around US$50). Sorry hermanos, no gracias !

 

[rockscott]

All the daddario round strings sound brash and clanky to my ears! Im a DR player, i love the low riders, black beauties, high beams & sunbeams! I changed out the factory strings on my new epi embassy last night & installed low riders!

 

[GTHintz]

Started with a short scale with flats, but thanks to Talkbass, after three years added four full scale, being one fretless...all roundwound (waiting for Ernie Ball to release a short scale Group IV for my Longhorn).
Except for Roto Swing Bass, that really has something special going on, I guess nickel would be more my cup of tea indeed.

There's Magma strings here, but same price of GHS or Addario nickel plated ones (around US$50). Sorry hermanos, no gracias !

I get what you mean by special with Rotosound. The closest comparison ive found with strings has to be Dean Markley Blue Steel. They actually became my favorite string over rotos because they are very similar but i believe i sound and pluck better on blue steels. They also last longer to me. Both are the most dynamic and loudest strings ive tried. If you like rotos then i think you'll like blue steel. Labella rx once again i wouldn't sleep on. I think they have a nice character as well. Very growly strings when you're eq is set for it.

 

[Bobbadfinger]

In the 90's I used almost exclusively Dean Markley (guitar) strings, just loved them.
Then they kind of vanish from the market.

I just checked them, no (bass) Blue Steels around here, but found a "signature" one; pretty cheap actually - US$30, just a bit more than chinese or brazilian offerings (which are all cr%p).

 

[GTHintz]

In the 90's I used almost exclusively Dean Markley (guitar) strings, just loved them.
Then they kind of vanish from the market.

I just checked them, no (bass) Blue Steels around here, but found a "signature" one; pretty cheap actually - US$30, just a bit more than chinese or brazilian offerings (which are all cr%p).

Signature series are nickel plated steel and as they won't be as edgy as blue steels the nickel smooths things out they still will have nice mids and brightness. I have used dean Markley acoustic strings as well a electric guitar strings and they've always been good for me.